Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Thing #9 Swimming
I swam laps for a half hour this morning. This activity is a perfect example of why I need to try things twice – I could tell that it will be a great workout, and a great meditation, but I was getting used to the new equipment so much that today’s swim wasn’t particularly fun or contemplative.
I swam a lot as a kid, at least recreationally. I took some beginner lessons, and (get this) I took springboard diving lessons for two years in junior high with my friend Molly. And I spent every summer in junior high and high school splashing around in a neighbor’s pool with a bunch of neighborhood kids. It was great, though I am certain it left me with a lot of bad swimming habits. Those are very, very fond memories, however.
That’s probably why when I arrived at college and was required to fulfill PE credits, I chose to do self-directed swimming laps. I could go when I wanted, and I had to go for a certain amount of time. I would smoke afterward, but swimming before smoking is better than *not* swimming before smoking.
But I never used goggles, or a swim cap, and I certainly never really paid attention to the etiquette of the lap pool. I haven’t swum regularly since my sophomore year.
Today was fine. The goggles aren’t natural or comfortable yet, the suit wasn’t a great athletic-fit choice, and my stroke was more “flail” than “crawl”. But it felt good to be in the water, and I could go on my schedule and not someone else’s, and it certainly got me working hard. I will certainly try this again, and give it another real shot.
Other thoughts:
1) I notice that when I am going to try something significantly new, and it isn’t on someone else’s timetable, I procrastinate. I got in the pool a full half hour later than I intended. But I swam my laps, by golly!
2) Swim goggles are complicated little buggers, but they let you see underwater. I had never used them before in my life, and once I got the fit right they were really, really cool. I could see! For a glasses/contact wearing girl, that’s a big deal. Even the goggle marks on my face for the subsequent forty-five minutes made me feel tough. And big thanks to the guy in the lane next to mine who saw me struggling and offered sage and useful advice.
3) Swim caps are good, but they aren’t perfect. But then again, I’ve got a lot of hair at this point. It got damp, but not wet.
4) My swimsuit still had sand in it from a vacation two years ago. That is apropos of nothing, though it did make me long for a hot, sunny beach to justify the gritty reality of a sandy swimsuit.
I swam a lot as a kid, at least recreationally. I took some beginner lessons, and (get this) I took springboard diving lessons for two years in junior high with my friend Molly. And I spent every summer in junior high and high school splashing around in a neighbor’s pool with a bunch of neighborhood kids. It was great, though I am certain it left me with a lot of bad swimming habits. Those are very, very fond memories, however.
That’s probably why when I arrived at college and was required to fulfill PE credits, I chose to do self-directed swimming laps. I could go when I wanted, and I had to go for a certain amount of time. I would smoke afterward, but swimming before smoking is better than *not* swimming before smoking.
But I never used goggles, or a swim cap, and I certainly never really paid attention to the etiquette of the lap pool. I haven’t swum regularly since my sophomore year.
Today was fine. The goggles aren’t natural or comfortable yet, the suit wasn’t a great athletic-fit choice, and my stroke was more “flail” than “crawl”. But it felt good to be in the water, and I could go on my schedule and not someone else’s, and it certainly got me working hard. I will certainly try this again, and give it another real shot.
Other thoughts:
1) I notice that when I am going to try something significantly new, and it isn’t on someone else’s timetable, I procrastinate. I got in the pool a full half hour later than I intended. But I swam my laps, by golly!
2) Swim goggles are complicated little buggers, but they let you see underwater. I had never used them before in my life, and once I got the fit right they were really, really cool. I could see! For a glasses/contact wearing girl, that’s a big deal. Even the goggle marks on my face for the subsequent forty-five minutes made me feel tough. And big thanks to the guy in the lane next to mine who saw me struggling and offered sage and useful advice.
3) Swim caps are good, but they aren’t perfect. But then again, I’ve got a lot of hair at this point. It got damp, but not wet.
4) My swimsuit still had sand in it from a vacation two years ago. That is apropos of nothing, though it did make me long for a hot, sunny beach to justify the gritty reality of a sandy swimsuit.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Random Entry #2 Equipment and Gear
Gear and equipment for new activities are a dilemma for me. I don’t want to be “that guy” who buys all the best stuff for a sport she’s never done, uses it once or twice, then lets it sit in a closet somewhere as a quiet recrimination. Or have fancy equipment that serves the needs of someone far past my skill level. Talk about feeling like a jackass.
On the other hand, I am not going to try swimming without a swim cap and goggles. I pay wayhay too much money for Michelle and Goodie to do fancy things to my hair to let it become a chlorinated sheaf of pale, dried wheat.
Don’t get me wrong. Most of the gear investments I’ve made over the years have been worthwhile – good running shoes, a heart rate monitor I’ve had for twelve-plus years, a good water belt for running. I played Ultimate Frisbee for ten years in the same pair of cleats. I manage to get a lot of basic clothing essentials at great prices, too, either on sale or consigned. Even so I’ve been willing to spend more than usual, even at sale prices, for nice yoga pants or a quality wicking tank or t-shirt or solid winter running gear.
The point is that I use them. Those were all well-considered investments after I’d used basic and/or cheap gear for awhile and really knew I liked the sport or activity.
This is a little different. I have no idea if I’ll like swimming, or sledding. But if I’m going to try it, I need to make an upfront investment.
Yesterday I went to a big ol’ sports retailer and bought gear I’ve decided I’d like for the next phase of this challenge. I only bought things I couldn’t easily get from a local retailer (e.g., my running shoes and gear come from the running-specific store in my ward) or get used (I am not going to buy used bicycle shorts. It’s just not going to happen.).
The inventory:
1 pair winter boots (kids boots, good brand, on sale)
1 swim cap
1 pair swim goggles
1 pair bicycling shorts (turns out I like spinning!)
1 pair athletic shoes for club workouts (to replace a pair of beyond-worn-out shoes)
Each piece will help me maintain something I like, or try something I don’t know about. But I didn’t buy every bit of gear for every potential new endeavor. I’m not investing in a new swimsuit, for example, until I know I’ll be swimming with any great regularity. The one I have from Marshall’s that I bought at the last minute for a vacation two years ago will do just fine as part of this experiment.
But I didn’t get the cheapest of everything, though. While I bought the cheapest bicycle shorts they had (padding for those rides will be nice, but I am not Jan Ulrich or anything. Doing 50 minutes of spinning was fine without it. I think it will just be better *with* it, even at the cheapest level) I did not buy the cheapest goggles or swim cap. Four extra buck for goggles that felt ten times better seemed OK to me.
The only sad part was showing up for a spin class today in my shiny new bike shorts and having to do yoga instead because the bikes were all full. (The January Effect at the gym is remarkable. My wish for all those folks is that they’re filling the bikes in March, too!)
On the other hand, I am not going to try swimming without a swim cap and goggles. I pay wayhay too much money for Michelle and Goodie to do fancy things to my hair to let it become a chlorinated sheaf of pale, dried wheat.
Don’t get me wrong. Most of the gear investments I’ve made over the years have been worthwhile – good running shoes, a heart rate monitor I’ve had for twelve-plus years, a good water belt for running. I played Ultimate Frisbee for ten years in the same pair of cleats. I manage to get a lot of basic clothing essentials at great prices, too, either on sale or consigned. Even so I’ve been willing to spend more than usual, even at sale prices, for nice yoga pants or a quality wicking tank or t-shirt or solid winter running gear.
The point is that I use them. Those were all well-considered investments after I’d used basic and/or cheap gear for awhile and really knew I liked the sport or activity.
This is a little different. I have no idea if I’ll like swimming, or sledding. But if I’m going to try it, I need to make an upfront investment.
Yesterday I went to a big ol’ sports retailer and bought gear I’ve decided I’d like for the next phase of this challenge. I only bought things I couldn’t easily get from a local retailer (e.g., my running shoes and gear come from the running-specific store in my ward) or get used (I am not going to buy used bicycle shorts. It’s just not going to happen.).
The inventory:
1 pair winter boots (kids boots, good brand, on sale)
1 swim cap
1 pair swim goggles
1 pair bicycling shorts (turns out I like spinning!)
1 pair athletic shoes for club workouts (to replace a pair of beyond-worn-out shoes)
Each piece will help me maintain something I like, or try something I don’t know about. But I didn’t buy every bit of gear for every potential new endeavor. I’m not investing in a new swimsuit, for example, until I know I’ll be swimming with any great regularity. The one I have from Marshall’s that I bought at the last minute for a vacation two years ago will do just fine as part of this experiment.
But I didn’t get the cheapest of everything, though. While I bought the cheapest bicycle shorts they had (padding for those rides will be nice, but I am not Jan Ulrich or anything. Doing 50 minutes of spinning was fine without it. I think it will just be better *with* it, even at the cheapest level) I did not buy the cheapest goggles or swim cap. Four extra buck for goggles that felt ten times better seemed OK to me.
The only sad part was showing up for a spin class today in my shiny new bike shorts and having to do yoga instead because the bikes were all full. (The January Effect at the gym is remarkable. My wish for all those folks is that they’re filling the bikes in March, too!)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Get Fit Challenge Begins!
Today is the offical start of the Get Fit Challenge. Get more information, sign up your team, or log your minutes of activity at the Get Fit Challenge link on the sidebar over there.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Thing #7 Spinning Again
I did another spin class this morning. I figured it would be easier to negotiate the etiquette and set-up this time since I had done it once. I felt a little cockier than I should have, it turns out – I tried to claim someone’s bike, not realizing the gently draped towel on the handlebars meant it was already claimed. But doing this challenge has created a whole new spirit for me – I laughed and apologized to the nice man whose bike I was trying to steal (clearly his favorite, since I think I saw him on it last time) instead of feeling like a jackass. Who knew this experiment would have such useful side benefits?
I knew the teacher, too – he’s a trainer at the gym as well as a resident of Southwest Minneapolis, so I see him when I go in to train with The Trainer. Or at the store one time. So I felt more comfortable just asking for his help with the still-mysterious handlebars. (I did manage to remove them all by myself when I was done. Woo hoo!)
All of this meant I had a great time and a great workout. What I still really like about spin is that there’s company and an instructor, but you don’t have to work any harder than makes sense for you. It means I work out longer and harder than I would by myself, but I am not embarrassed by not being as fit as the people on the other bikes. They have no idea how high – or low! -- I spin that little wheel that increases the challenge.
See? This experiment is really paying off now. I think I could happily take spin classes in the winter to get a good cardio workout.
As an aside, a photographer from the Southwest Journal was waiting for me after class. I had agreed to it as part of a story they’re doing on the Get Fit Challenge, don’t get me wrong, but it’s still a little disconcerting to be photographed at 7 in the morning. In workout clothes. After a tough workout.
Ah, well. Such is life. The alternative was to not do the spin class, and that wasn’t acceptable.
I knew the teacher, too – he’s a trainer at the gym as well as a resident of Southwest Minneapolis, so I see him when I go in to train with The Trainer. Or at the store one time. So I felt more comfortable just asking for his help with the still-mysterious handlebars. (I did manage to remove them all by myself when I was done. Woo hoo!)
All of this meant I had a great time and a great workout. What I still really like about spin is that there’s company and an instructor, but you don’t have to work any harder than makes sense for you. It means I work out longer and harder than I would by myself, but I am not embarrassed by not being as fit as the people on the other bikes. They have no idea how high – or low! -- I spin that little wheel that increases the challenge.
See? This experiment is really paying off now. I think I could happily take spin classes in the winter to get a good cardio workout.
As an aside, a photographer from the Southwest Journal was waiting for me after class. I had agreed to it as part of a story they’re doing on the Get Fit Challenge, don’t get me wrong, but it’s still a little disconcerting to be photographed at 7 in the morning. In workout clothes. After a tough workout.
Ah, well. Such is life. The alternative was to not do the spin class, and that wasn’t acceptable.
Thing #8 Yoga Pilates Fusion
Honestly, after awhile, is a Yoga Pilates Fusion class that different from Fitness Yoga or Fitness Pilates? I’m not sure. This is all new to me. It seemed kind of the same as the yoga class I’ve taken (I suppose magnified by the fact that it’s taught by the same woman), but I recognized a few elements from the Pilates class I took. And it worked my abs harder. She still referenced the heart center and said “namaste” at the end, though.
Regardless, I took it on a whim. I was at the gym a little later in the morning than usual. I had my mp3 player all geared up to do a bike workout or some such, but then I saw this on the schedule and I figured “why not?” Why not indeed. It was a 75 minute class, which I didn’t know going in, and it really did work my abs harder than fitness yoga had. She focused on shoulders, so as I self-corrected my posture all day I could really feel it. But from the other things I tried it was familiar enough to not feel like a jackass, which was a nice break, and I think my hamstrings have loosened at least 3 millimeters since I first tried yoga. So that’s good.
It was the instructor’s birthday, too. She’s my age. I had thought she was ten years younger, and I have seen her in the stark gym light and not just the gentle warm yoga room light, so that’s saying something. There must be something to this yoga thing after all. Happy birthday, Ellie!
Regardless, I took it on a whim. I was at the gym a little later in the morning than usual. I had my mp3 player all geared up to do a bike workout or some such, but then I saw this on the schedule and I figured “why not?” Why not indeed. It was a 75 minute class, which I didn’t know going in, and it really did work my abs harder than fitness yoga had. She focused on shoulders, so as I self-corrected my posture all day I could really feel it. But from the other things I tried it was familiar enough to not feel like a jackass, which was a nice break, and I think my hamstrings have loosened at least 3 millimeters since I first tried yoga. So that’s good.
It was the instructor’s birthday, too. She’s my age. I had thought she was ten years younger, and I have seen her in the stark gym light and not just the gentle warm yoga room light, so that’s saying something. There must be something to this yoga thing after all. Happy birthday, Ellie!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Random Entry #1 Choosing Activities
When I started this challenge I wrote up a list for myself of activities I would consider trying. This challenge started as, and remains, a genuine opportunity for me to stay active this winter and find activities I like for the longer run. As a result, the activities need to be things that I am willing to do, that fit in with my schedule, and that I would be able to repeat over time if I liked them. And so, even though there are outdoor activities on my list, I really haven’t been drawn to try any of them. That’s what got me here in the first place. I love Minnesota, I love Minneapolis, but I really, really do not like being cold or being out in the cold for very long. So it takes either a supreme act of will, or a lot of social support, to participate in outdoor winter activities.
This is not the first experiment I’ve tried to get more active in the winter. I used to run outside all winter long. It was a lot more effort to get myself out the door than it was worth, though I will admit to feeling very, very tough after having done it. I have all the right gear, too -- the fancy jacket and pants, tights, gloves, a flashing red light. But I would procrastinate, be miserable, and only run for twenty minutes. And I'd be cold for half of it, running in the dark and cold, trying not to slip on icy patches. I could tell myself all about learning to love it, and the benefits of staying out longer, and it is a great option for some people. Plus it's free. But after three years of disappointing results I really had to just face it -- there had to be better option.
I played hockey for a season. I liked it a lot, and it had been dream of mine for a long time to play. But I didn’t have the time to keep traveling to weird ice times in South St. Paul, and I didn’t have enough time to play to make myself skilled enough to fully enjoy it. And when you’re bad, it makes it even harder to pay a lot of money to drive 45 minutes to put on equipment for twenty minutes to play badly for twenty out of sixty minutes as a member of one of three lines.
I played basketball for a couple of seasons through the Minneapolis Park system, and that was fun. The fact that I was terrible didn’t stop it from being a good workout, and I really liked the women I was playing with. Once a week wasn’t enough to really keep me in shape, though, and once I was a candidate it was really hard to make the regular Sunday evening game time (though I did my best!).
I started with a The Trainer in part because I thought it would help keep me accountable over the winter months, and that has worked. But I can’t afford to see her as often as I need to work out.
So here I am! Casting my nets more widely for fun winter activities I’ll actually do. I have vowed to try at least twelve things. I vow to do each twice because I know that the first time I try anything, especially anything remotely sporty, it’s awkward and I don’t know the right level of effort or how the equipment works or where I’m going or who else will be there or what to wear. There’s a learning curve.
Doing something twice helps mediate the Jackass Factor, basically.
In the past, not knowing what I was doing has prevented me from, well, doing anything. But not doing anything leaves me feeling restless and unhealthy. Not doing anything also makes me really crabby – I need regular physical effort to work through my stress, and when I don’t we can all tell. Trust me. Working out is a cornerstone of my stress management plan. I do it to stay healthy and maintain weight, sure. But mostly I do it to stay happy and on a more even keel in my daily life.
So I will continue to focus on realistic activities for me, my interests, and my tolerance levels. My activities might not work for you at all – but I am certain there is something for you that will work with as much research as you can figure out to do. It’s kind of fun to find out what they are, too, Jackass Factor notwithstanding.
This is not the first experiment I’ve tried to get more active in the winter. I used to run outside all winter long. It was a lot more effort to get myself out the door than it was worth, though I will admit to feeling very, very tough after having done it. I have all the right gear, too -- the fancy jacket and pants, tights, gloves, a flashing red light. But I would procrastinate, be miserable, and only run for twenty minutes. And I'd be cold for half of it, running in the dark and cold, trying not to slip on icy patches. I could tell myself all about learning to love it, and the benefits of staying out longer, and it is a great option for some people. Plus it's free. But after three years of disappointing results I really had to just face it -- there had to be better option.
I played hockey for a season. I liked it a lot, and it had been dream of mine for a long time to play. But I didn’t have the time to keep traveling to weird ice times in South St. Paul, and I didn’t have enough time to play to make myself skilled enough to fully enjoy it. And when you’re bad, it makes it even harder to pay a lot of money to drive 45 minutes to put on equipment for twenty minutes to play badly for twenty out of sixty minutes as a member of one of three lines.
I played basketball for a couple of seasons through the Minneapolis Park system, and that was fun. The fact that I was terrible didn’t stop it from being a good workout, and I really liked the women I was playing with. Once a week wasn’t enough to really keep me in shape, though, and once I was a candidate it was really hard to make the regular Sunday evening game time (though I did my best!).
I started with a The Trainer in part because I thought it would help keep me accountable over the winter months, and that has worked. But I can’t afford to see her as often as I need to work out.
So here I am! Casting my nets more widely for fun winter activities I’ll actually do. I have vowed to try at least twelve things. I vow to do each twice because I know that the first time I try anything, especially anything remotely sporty, it’s awkward and I don’t know the right level of effort or how the equipment works or where I’m going or who else will be there or what to wear. There’s a learning curve.
Doing something twice helps mediate the Jackass Factor, basically.
In the past, not knowing what I was doing has prevented me from, well, doing anything. But not doing anything leaves me feeling restless and unhealthy. Not doing anything also makes me really crabby – I need regular physical effort to work through my stress, and when I don’t we can all tell. Trust me. Working out is a cornerstone of my stress management plan. I do it to stay healthy and maintain weight, sure. But mostly I do it to stay happy and on a more even keel in my daily life.
So I will continue to focus on realistic activities for me, my interests, and my tolerance levels. My activities might not work for you at all – but I am certain there is something for you that will work with as much research as you can figure out to do. It’s kind of fun to find out what they are, too, Jackass Factor notwithstanding.
Thing #6 Stairmaster Again
I did another thirty minute workout on the stairmaster. This went better than the first time – it was a newer machine and there were other people around. You’d think that going up stairs for a half hour would hurt my knees – but they felt and feel surprisingly good. It was a tough workout, too. I didn’t use a pre-program or anything, just switched it up myself, but apparently I am willing to work myself pretty hard because I was sweating hard halfway through.
One of the reasons I’ve been trying the stairmaster is because I’ll be climbing the IDS steps again on February 9th to help raise money to cure cystic fibrosis. The officer coordinating the Minneapolis Police Department team asked me to participate last year and while I posted a respectable time (well, I didn’t hang my head afterward at the very least) it nearly killed me. I figured a session or two on a stairmaster can’t hurt, right?
One of the reasons I’ve been trying the stairmaster is because I’ll be climbing the IDS steps again on February 9th to help raise money to cure cystic fibrosis. The officer coordinating the Minneapolis Police Department team asked me to participate last year and while I posted a respectable time (well, I didn’t hang my head afterward at the very least) it nearly killed me. I figured a session or two on a stairmaster can’t hurt, right?
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